Fender skirt



Feb. 1, 1949. c. ss 2,460,349

FENDER SKIRT Filed July 8, 1947 Patented Feb. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FENDER s m'r Reinhardt C. Hessler, Pontiac, Mich. Application July 8, 1947, serial No. 759,510

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fender skirts and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a fender attachment embodying novel and improved locking means for holding. the same in a fixed position relative to a fender.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a fender skirt including hinge means so designed as to permit the skirt to be quickly and readily applied to any type of fender in a convenient manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fender skirt including padding means that bear against a portion of the fender to prevent undesirable noise as the vehicle to which the device is applied is in motion.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a fender skirt that is simple and practical in construction, neat and attractive in appearance, strong and reliable in use, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

2 Claims. (01.280-7153) Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vehicle showing the present invention applied to the fender thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary inside view of a fender showing the present device in position thereto;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 6 is a group perspective view of the hinge means used in conjunction with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l0 represents a usual vehicle fender provided with a substantially rectangular opening l2 opposing the vehicle wheel [4.

The edge of the fender outlining the opening I2 is bent inwardly to provide a recess l8 about the fender.

The numeral l8 represents a substantially rectangular closure having a resilient padding 20 secured to its inner face adjacent the outer edge ofthe closure for engaging the recess [6 to prevent marring of the fender or noise resulting from the closure engaging the fender.

Reference is now directed to Figure 6 wherein there is disclosed the hinge means for use with the closure and the fender. This hinge more particularly comprises a first member or plate 22 substantially rectangular in form, which is fixedly secured to the inner surface of the fender and which member is provided with a longitudinal slot 24. The ends of the plate adjacent the slot are turned inwardly to provide hook members 26 having offset bight portions and including upper bearing faces and free extremities. The free extremities of said hook members being substantially coplanar with the inner face of the fender III. The numeral 28 represents a movable member or plate that is fixedly secured to the inner face of the closure and which is provided with an outwardly projecting reduced extension 30 that is loosely received in slot 24 and a cross bar 32- that engages the upper faces of the bight portions of the hook members 25. It should be noted that the bearing faces of the bight portions limit upward movement of the cross bar 32 relative to the hook members when the closure is in a closed position.

Pivotally mounted on the inner face of the closure I8 is a latch plate 34 that is actuated by a key engaging pin or look 36 journaled on the closure.

A pair of links or bars 38 pivotally mounted on the latch bar extend through guide brackets 4|] fixedly mounted on the inner face of the closure.

In practical use of the device, when the correct key (not shown) is inserted into the key opening provided in pin 36 and the key is turned in one direction, the bars 38 extend to bear against a portion of the fender to prevent swinging movement of the closure relative to the fender. When the key is rotated in an opposite direction, the bars 38 disengage the fender so that the closure may be swung outwardly for accessibility to the wheel M.

In view of the foregoing disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same i susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described andthe scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

1. A fender skirt comprising a closure, hinge means connecting the closure to the inner face of a fender, said hinge means including a first plate fixed to the inner surface of a fender, said first plate including a pair of spaced hook members having ofiset bite portions projecting in; Wardly of the inner face of a fender and in cluding upper bearing faces and free extremities, the free extremities of said hook members being substantially coplanar with the inner face ofa fender, and a second plate fixed to the inner face means connecting the'closure to the inner race of a fender, said hinge means including a first 1 plate fixed to the inner surface ofja fender said first plate including a pair of spaced hoolrmemhers having offset bite portions projectinginwardly of the inner face of a fender and including upper bearing faces and free extremities, the free extremities of said hook members being substantially coplanar with the inner face of a fender, and a second plate fixed to the inner face of the closure and movable with said closure, said second plate including an outwardly projecting reduced extension and a cross bar for engaging the bite portions of the hook members, the bearing races of the bite portions limiting upward l bvcmnt of the cross bar relative to hook members when the closure is in a closed position, a pivotal latch mounted on the inner face of said closure, a pair of links pivotally mounted on said latch, guide means carried by the closure s-lidably receiving the links, and a key engaging cylinder rotatably carried by the closure and connected to the latch for actuating the. linlrs to engage a fender.

REINg-IARDT o. HESSLEE.

ItEFERIQNCES CI'lE-D The following references are, of record in the amine re e f 7 2,202,904 Fergueson 19%) 3. t 9 ,239 31 AP 2?, 941

2,3 25% Earrin s. Mar- 2; 9% 

